GARDEN FURNITURE 5 



requires " furniture " that shall be in keeping, and the 

 incongruity of including a Sheraton chair in a Louis 

 Seize drawing-room, would be no worse than the placing 

 of a rustic bench in a formal terrace scheme, or an 

 elaborate marble fountain in a garden where natural 

 planting and arrangement is closely followed. 



With the exception perhaps of sundials and statuary, 

 garden furniture should be made to serve a useful purpose, 

 and it appears to greatest advantage when this utility is 

 not sacrificed in any way. For example, a bridge exists 

 for the express purpose of crossing a piece of water ; if it 

 can be made ornamental so much the better, but its 

 original use must be kept clearly in view. This accounts 

 for the fact that bridges spanning imaginary streams or 

 erected on dry land are objects of ridicule to all who can 

 appreciate their absurdity. It is useless to place a seat 

 where it would not offer the slightest inducement for a 

 halt and rest ; and a summer-house which is too hot to sit 

 in except in cool weather, has no right to exist in the 

 garden. Congruity, again, is to be thought of when 

 introducing " furniture " among surroundings which are 

 usually foreign to artificiality of any kind. The sundial, 

 though charming enough in isolated spots where there is 

 ample inducement for rest and meditation, is sadly out of 

 keeping in gardens facing a busy thoroughfare, or where 

 the distant view is rudely obstructed by a vulgar adver- 

 tisement hoarding. Statues are out of place in small 

 villa gardens, though appropriate enough near the villas 

 of Italy. 



Having decided that our " furniture " is both useful and 

 suited to its surroundings, there is still the question of 

 design to be considered. Mere ornamental elaboration 

 can never be otherwise than objectionable, being alto- 

 gether opposed to the simplicity and infinite charm of the 

 effects which Nature herself supplies in the garden. How 

 paltry must carvings in wood and stone look beside the 



